Business Model of cloud computing

Cloud computing is a hot topic nowadays, as Ben Pring, a senior analyst at Gartner Consulting, said: "cloud computing has become a hot topic for everyone ". But the problem is that everyone seems to have their own different definitions.

"Cloud" is a familiar term, but when it is combined with "computing", its meaning is extensive and illusory. Some analysts and vendors define cloud computing as an upgraded version of Utility computing in a narrow sense: the most basic thing is to apply virtual servers within the network. Other aspects are also widely used.

When we take into account the actual needs of IT, the concept of cloud computing is gradually clear: that is, there is no need to increase investment in infrastructure, A method to improve the performance and capability of idle resources on the premise of new employee training or the latest software authorization. Cloud computing includes any service model that provides subscription-based or pay-per-use over the network in real time, expanding the existing capabilities of the IT industry.

Cloud computing is still in its infancy, with various vendors developing different cloud computing services, from mature applications to storage services to spam filtering. Good, infrastructure providers of utility models provide a variety of services, as are SaaS (software as a service) vendors such as Salesforce.com. To a large extent, the IT industry must accept cloud services individually, but cloud computing developers and integrators have begun to take shape.

Based on the cloud computing opinions of different vendors, analysts, and IT users, we divide cloud computing into the following categories:

1. software as a service (SaaS)

This type of cloud computing uses the multitenant architecture to promote a single application software to thousands of users through a web browser. From the user perspective, this means that they do not need to invest in server or software license authorization in the early stage; from the vendor perspective, compared with the conventional software service model, the cost of maintaining an application software is relatively low. So far, Salesforce.com is the most well-known vendor in the enterprise application software field. However, software as a service (SaaS) is widely used in human resource management software, and there are also ERP software vendors such as Workday. Who can predict that the software-as-a-service (SaaS) Desktop System Application Software from Google and oho Office will suddenly jump?

2. Utility computing)

This idea is not new, but this type of cloud computing has Amazon.com, Sun, the participation of IBM and other virtual machine vendors engaged in storage services and IT on-demand access brings new vitality. Early enterprises mainly supplemented utility computing and won't apply it to key task demands. However, utility computing is gradually gaining a place in the data center. Some vendors provide users with solutions to help IT enterprises create data centers starting from commercial servers, such as 3366's AppLogic and the Elastic Server of Cohesive Flexible Technologies provide such on-demand services. Liquid Computing's LiquidQ also has similar services, which can help enterprises integrate memory, I/0, storage and Computing capacity into a virtual resource pool through the network.

3. Cloud computing network services

Network services are closely related to software-as-a-service (SaaS). network service providers provide APIs to help developers expand functionality through the network, rather than simply providing mature application software. Their services range from the provision of scattered commercial services (such as Strike Iron AND Xignite) to the process involving Google Maps, ADP salary processing, U. S. Post and telecommunications services, A full set of API services such as Bloomberg and conventional credit card processing services.

4. Platform as a service)

Platform as a service is a variant of software as a service (SaaS). In this form of cloud computing, the development environment is provided as a service. You can create your own applications to run on the vendor's infrastructure and upload them to the user through the network. For example, Legos does this. However, these services are limited by the vendor's design and capacity, so users are not free enough. Representative companies include Force.com and Coghead of Salesforce.com.

5. Manage service providers (MSP)

Management Service is one of the oldest forms of cloud computing. Management Service is an application software for IT vendors rather than end users, such as virus scanning service for email or Application Software Monitoring Service. Management Security services provided by SecureWorks, IBM, and Verizon are classified as such, and cloud-based anti-spam services of Postini, which are currently acquired by Google. Other products include desktop system management services, such as those provided by CenterBeam and Everdream.

6. service business platform

A service commercial platform is a mixture of software as a service (SaaS) and management service providers (MSP). This cloud computing service provides a service collector that combines with users. It is most widely used in the trade field, for example, a fee management system allows users to order travel products or render platform services that are consistent with the required services and prices from a common platform within the user-defined specifications, which is like an automated service bureau, well-known companies include Rearden Commerce and Arba.

7. Network Integration

The integration of basic cloud services is still in the initial stage. Software Service Provider OpSource has released OpSource Services Bus, which is a cloud integration technology that has become Boomi. Workday, a software-as-a-service provider, recently acquired CapeClear, another company in the field, the ESB (Enterprise Service Bus) supplier that primarily serves the B-TO-B business model. Grand Central is also committed to providing integrated solutions to users, which were recently acquired by Google.

Today, cloud computing is not widely used. A more precise description of cloud computing may be "cloud computing ". At the same time, with the gradual popularization of virtualization and SOA in enterprises, this idea has also begun to be recognized by everyone. A Scalable infrastructure should ultimately make every enterprise the most cloud node. This is a long-term trend that can develop, but it is undeniable that cloud computing will be one of the difficulties of the industry in a long period of time.

 

Text Excerpted from: http://server.51cto.com/Trend-96667.htm